The Central Coast Mariners have stood down head coach Phil Moss, effective immediately.

Moss will be replaced by the Mariners' newly-appointed technical director Tony Walmsley in an interim capacity.

The struggling Gosford club has also appointed captain John Hutchinson to a dual-position role as player-coach, until the end of his final season as a player.

Moss's Mariners have struggled this A-League season and sit in eighth place with just three wins from 19 matches, six points behind the seventh-placed Brisbane Roar and five ahead of the Newcastle Jets in ninth.

Moss took up the head coach role at the Mariners in November 2013 in the wake of current Sydney FC boss Graham Arnold's departure for China.

The Mariners says the decision to stand Moss aside is part of executive vice chairman Peter Storrie's restructure of the club, adding assistant coach Wayne O'Sullivan will be "offered a new role at the club."

"The club will soon commence the search for a new permanent head coach with Walmsley to remain as the club's technical director," the Mariners said in a statement.

"Stepping into a player/coach role will be Central Coast Mariners club captain, John Hutchinson who will take on the dual-position until the end of his final campaign as a player.

"The specifics of Hutchinson's coaching contract are yet to be finalised but fans, media and members can be rest assured that the club captain will remain with the Mariners in a coaching capacity beyond this season.

"The next phase of the Central Coast Mariners restructure will also include a fresh look at the operation of youth football that will be made evident in the near future with further statements."